The dogs were owned by our neighbors across the street. We didn’t have any issues with the dogs but they occasionally got out as they were only behind a 3 foot fence. When they got out sometimes they would come to our house with their tails wagging and my mom would just walk them back across the street and put them back in their yard. She worked as a dog groomer and was really good with dogs.
One afternoon, For some unknown reason they got out and attacked a boy that lived one street over. The mom was home and got the dogs off her son but got bit herself. The dogs ran away and she called an ambulance. The police were also called out. I was sitting at home looking out my front window and I saw the police. They were across the street in front of the neighbors yard and the dogs were wagging their tails and sniffing their hands. To me it looked like the dogs had just gotten out again so I headed out the front door to help the police. When the dogs saw me they charged and attacked me in my front yard. The police came running guns drawn and pulled the dogs off of me and shot them one by one.

We ultimately had to sue because our neighbors insurance company was trying to screw us over. Those funds allowed me to serve a mission, attend BYU, buy an engagement ring and go on a modest honeymoon. It is highly unlikely I would have gone to BYU given our poor financial circumstances. I’m oversimplifying a complex set of circumstances and a much longer story so just trust me.

Long term effects were very difficult as a kid-mainly an unreasonable fear of dogs along with nightmares. I still have nightmares but not bad around dogs unless they’re chasing me.